Two weeks ago, the new CEO of the Colorado Health Foundation made a visit to Pagosa Springs in order to spark discussion around the meaning of health and access to health services in our community. During the meeting, community leaders highlighted a lack of awareness concerning available health resources, specifically those related to behavioral health. This week, The SUN sat down with Erik Foss, clinical manager of Axis Health Systems, to discuss this lack of awareness and the services available to members of the community.
Axis Health Systems has existed in Archuleta County for approximately 55 years, dating back to the mid ’60s when the United States began to push for de-institutionalization. Foss was quick to point out that Axis is not the sole provider of behavioral health services in the community, with several private practitioners in the area.
“I would agree that there is a lack of awareness of services that are available, and not just through our office, we have some really great private practitioners that have been in this community for years and have done a lot of fantastic work and do a lot of fantastic work,” Foss told The SUN.
Axis Health Systems provides “integrated” care in Cortez and Durango, combining both primary care and behavioral health care services. Here in Pagosa Springs, the clinic is, at this time, focused on behavioral health. Axis offers both clinical counseling and psychiatric services in individual and group formats, and providers address a wide variety of behavioral health concerns.
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